Lighting switch



Nov. 5 1929. H. E. NORVIEL 1,734,226

LIGHTING SWITCH Filed June,l5, 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 5, 1929. H. E. NORVIEL 1,734,226

LIGHTING SWITCH Filed June 13, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ww/wg Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY E. NORVIEL, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-REMY GORPORA- .TION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LIGHTING SWITCH Application filed June 13,

This invention relates to electric switches and particularly to switches for controlling electric circuits of an automobile.

One object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of manufacture of switches of this kind and this object is accomplished in the present invention by a construction which provides for the formation of the frame work and other parts of sheet metal and some of the movable parts of die castings.

Further ob]ects and advantages of the pres ent invention will be apparent from the following description reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a switch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view. a

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 isa sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the switch operat ing handle.

Fig. 6 is a View of the switch mounting bracket looking in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fi 3.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively on the lines 88 and 9 9 of Fig. 3.

The frame work of the switch includes a mounting bracket or frame 20 which is characterized by a main plate 21. A dished portion 22 having an end wall 23 and a cylindrical wall 24 and a channel portion 25 having an end wall 26. The wall 23 provides one end of a switch case including also a tubular member 27 formed by bending a strip of sheet material into cylindrical form. The member 27 is provided with tangs 28 which extend through holes 29 respectively in the wall 23 of the bracket 20. The tangs are bent over against the inside surface of the wall 23 as shown in Fig. 3, in order to secure the members 23 and 27. The holes 29 are arranged in a circular row concentric with a ball 36 against a ratchet detent and stop block 37 having a journal 38 supported by the bearing flange 31 of the wall 23, andhaving a journal 39 supported by the bearing providedby the cylindrical edge 40 surrounding a hole 41 in a dial plate 42. v I

The dial or face plate 42 is attached to the bracket 20 after the parts which have been described have been assembled as shown in Fig. 3. The dial plate 42 is provided with an elliptical flange 43 hearing against the main plate 21 of the bracket 20. The dial plate 42 is attached to the bracket 20 by a bezel plate 44 which is characterized by a main fiat plate 45 having an elliptical bead 46 surrounding an elliptical opening through which the dial plate 42 is accessible. The elliptical bead 46 cooperates: with the elliptical flange 43 to maintain the dial plate 42 against the main plate 21 of the bracket 20. The main plate 45 of the dial plate 42 is provided with tangs 47 which extend into notches 48 provided by the main plate 21 of the bracket 20.

The plate 21 is provided with channeled shaped lugs 50 which are engaged by angle bars 51 extending in parallel relation across the back of an instrument board 52 but spaced therefrom. When the angle bars 51 are attached to the instrument board 52 they will secure the switch bracket in place, the head 46 extending through an elliptical opening in the instrument board.

The dial plate 42 supports one end of a choke wire guide tube 53 which extends through a hole 54 in the bracket 20.

After the switch parts, which have thus far been described. have been assembled, the square shaft 61 of a switch handle is passed. through a square hole in the block 37 and through a square hole in a non-conducting switch contact carrier 62 which has been placed Within the switch case as shown in Fig. 3. The contact carrier is maintained assembled with the swith shaft 61 by a spring 63 which is Cshaped as shown in Fig. a and is snapped in a groove 64 provided by the shaft 61. The contact carrier is secured by rivets 65 to the movable switch contact 66 having a plurality of arms 67 terminating in spherical projections or buttons 68.

The switch case is closed by a cover 70 of non-conducting material which supports the switch terminals and stationary contacts which are provided by tubular. rivets 71 around which is molded the molding compound of insulating material of which the cover or switch back 7 0 is formed. Each tubular rivet is provided with a tapped hole for receiving a screw for attaching a wire through it, and on the inside of the back 70 each rivet is provided with a spherical depression 72 arranged to be engaged by one or more contact buttons 68. The back 70 is provided with suitable indicia for indicating how the connections are to be made at the back of the switch. The back 7 O is attached to the tubular member 27 by providing the latter with tangs 7 5 which are received by notches 76 in the back 70, the tangs being bent over at 7 5* against the outside of the back.

The switch handle may be turned into a plurality of positions designated On, Dim, Off, Park as indicated by the position of the handle with relation to these words which are impressed or painted upon the dial plate 42. The movable contact 66 is yieldingly maintained in its different positions due to the engagement of the spherical button 68 with the spherical depression 72 in the contact rivets 71 and also by the detent ratchet device which includes the ratchet block 37 having the notches 37 00- operating with a spring pressed ball 36 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8. Rotation of the handle 60 is limited by the engagement of a lug 37 provided by the, block 37 as shown in Figs. 3 and 8 with a lug 8O struck out from the wall 23 of the bracket 20 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The construction which has been described provides for economical manufacture since the frame and switch housing members can be manufactured from flat sheet material. The contact carrier 62 may be punched from a sheet of flat insulating material. The handle 60 and the block 37 may be made of die castings.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might, be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising a mounting frame and a face plate attached together and having parallel spaced wall portions provided respectively with aligned apertures centrally thereof, a ratchet block located between said wall portions and journalled within said apertures, a spring urged ratchet plunger lying in the plane of and engaging the block, a switch case including the wall portion of the mounting frame and a tubular member attached thereto, a switch case cover attached to the tubular member and carrying terminals and stationary contacts, a handle having a shaft extending through a central aperture in the ratchet block and drivingly connected therewith, a contact carrier attached to the handle shaft within the case, and a movable contact attached to the carrier.

2. An electric switch according to claim 1 in which the ratchet block and the contact carrier have central apertures which are rectangular in cross section and of the same cross-sectional dimensions, and in which the handle has a shaft of similar cross-sectional shape and adapted to be received by the apertures in the block and carrier, and in which means accessible only from the interior of the case is provided for preventing withdrawal of the handle shaft.

3. An electric switch according to claim in which the ratchet block and the contact carrier have central apertures which are rectangular in cross section and of thesame cross sectional dimensions, and in which the handle has a shaft of similar cross-sectional shape and adapted to be received by the apertures inthe block and carrier, and in which the handle shaft is provided with a groove, adj acent its end within the case, for receiving a spring C-washer which engages the carrier to prevent removal of the handle.

4. An electric switch comprising a mounting frame and a face plate attached together and having parallel spaced wall portions provided respectively with aligned apertures, ratchet provisions located between said wall portions, detcnt pro- Visions lying in the plane of and engaging the ratchet provisions, one of said provisions being journalled within the said apertures, the other of said provisions being relatively fixed, a switch case including the wall portion of the mounting frame and a tubular member attached thereto, a switch case cover attached to the tubular member and carrying terminals and stationary contacts, a handle having a shaft extending through a central aperture in one of said provisions, and drivingly connected therewith, a contact carrier attached to the handle shaft within the case, and a movable contact attached to the carrier.

5. An electricvswitch comprising a mounting frame and a face plate attached together and having parallel spaced wall portions provided respectively with aligned apertures, ratchet and detent provisions located between said wall portions, one of said provisions being journalled within the said apertures, a handle having a shaft extending through an aperture in one of said provisions and drivingly connected therewith, a switch case including the wall portion of the mounting frame and a tubular member attached thereto, a switch case cover attached to the tubular member and carryingterminal and stationary contacts, a contact carrier attached to the handle shaft Within the case, and a movable contact attached to the carrier.

6. An electric switch comprising a mounting frame and a face plate attached together and having parallel spaced wall portions provided respectively with aligned apertures, ratchet provisions located between said wall portions, spring pressed detent provisions lying in the plane of and engaging the ratchet provisions, one of said provisions being j ournalled within the said apertures, the other of said provisions being relatively fixed, a switch case including the wall portion of the mounting frame and a tubular member attached thereto, a switch case cover attached to the tubular member and carrying terminals and stationary contacts, a handle having a shaft extending through a central aperture in one of said provisions and drivingly connected therewith, a contact carrier attached to the handle shaft within the case, and a movable contact attached to the carrier.

7. In a selective circuit electric switch position retaining means comprising, in combination, a mounting frame and a face plate attached together and having parallel spaced wall portions provided respectively with aligned apertures, ratchet provisions located between said wall portions, detent provisions lying in the plane of and engaging the ratchet provisions, one of said provisions being journalled within the said apertures, the other of said provisions being relatively fixed to one of the wall portions, and a handle having a shaft extending through an aperture of the journalled provisions and drivingly connected therewith, said ratchet and detent provisions cooperating to hold the journalled provisions in whatever position driven to by the said handle.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. 

